The Aporia
Qatar is restructuring the Qatar Investment Authority’s (QIA) domestic portfolio to focus on creating “national champions” at home while continuing to invest abroad with surplus energy income. This move, which has been discussed since 2017 when QIA managed about half its current $580 billion in assets, involves transferring companies like Qatar Airways, Qatar National Bank, and an AI-focused company named Qai into a new division called Doha Investment. Doha Investment will hold more than 40 firms and plans to build businesses in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and supply chains.
Finance Minister Ali AlKuwari announced the restructuring at the Qatar Economic Forum, noting that it aims to attract foreign capital and increase private sector involvement. Given the impact of Russia’s war on energy exports, Qatar's economy is expected to contract this year, though a domestic stimulus package unveiled recently includes more than $60 billion in opportunities for private investors over five years. This includes $38.5 billion in infrastructure projects and another $22.5 billion in real estate and hospitality investments.